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A war of words develops between the Acting Police Commissioner and his predecessor following accusations surrounding the issuing of Firearm Users Licenses.

Stephen Williams says Gary Griffith listens to no one and does not understand his role as head of the police service.

On Monday Acting Commissioner Gary Griffith took issue with Mr. Williams’ objection to individual being allowed to own multiple weapons.

But on The Morning Show on i95.5fm yesterday, Stephen Williams questioned where Mr. Griffith would have gotten the number he used.

He insisted a person possessing multiple legal weapons is unacceptable.

Mr. Williams also explained that no one is entitled to own a gun in this country.

The retired Commissioner said he should have spoken out over the last 3 years, but did not wish to be in a public battle with anyone.

However in response, the acting top cop questions the timing of Mr. Williams’ statements.

Mr. Griffith says he has decided to speak out just as a new Commissioner is to be selected.

According to Mr. Griffith, the former Commissioner was not concerned when criminals had thousands of illegal weapons but he has a voice when law-abiding citizens want to protect themselves.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday, the acting top cop said under Mr. Williams the police service was stagnant.

In an opinion poll commissioned by the Police Service Commission earlier this year Mr. Griffith received an 80% approval rating.

He received scores 75% or higher in the areas of leading by example, being accessible, personal integrity and command presence.

Three hundred and fifteen pregnant women have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Director of Women’s Health at the Ministry of Health Dr. Adesh Sirjusingh said yesterday some have had to be placed in the Intensive Care Unit.

He gave the figures while responding to the recent approval of Pfizer’s 2-dose COVID-19 vaccine by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA has said the vaccine is safe for pregnant women.

Dr. Sirjusingh is urging expectant mothers to get inoculated in order to protect themselves.

He said pregnant women are experiencing new complications associated with the virus.

The medical expert again called on people in this vulnerable group to do the right thing.

He also said it is safe to breastfeed after getting inoculated.

Government in the Parliament today will seek a 3-month extension of the current State Of Emergency.

The SOE ends in 4 days time.

Last week the government said the extension of the SOE is necessary in the continuing fight against COVID-19.

The government does not need a special majority to pass the motion.

But the leader of the Opposition says while she is going into todays debate in the Parliament with an open mind, the government would have some convincing to do.

Kamla Persad Bissessar questions the government’s intention to extend the State Of Emergency.

During Monday evening’s virtual report, the UNC leader said she is eager to hear the government’s justifications, but the data in the public space is not looking good.

Last week Attorney General Faris Al Rawi said the data being requested by the Opposition Leader are in the public space every weekend during the COVID media update.

And former Political Leader of the Congress Of the People Carolyn Seepersad Bachan says the SOE may be a crime prevention tool but it does not stop the spread of COVID-19.

Mr. Al Rawi said the SOE has been successful.

Mrs. Seepersad Bachan further highlighted the road blocks associated with the SOE saying they create unfair and unwarranted inconvenience to the public.

Health authorities are denying claims that a child has died after taking Pfizer vaccine.

A series of What’s App messages circulated yesterday telling of a fatality linked to the Pfizer vaccine.

Epidemiologist Dr. Avery Hinds told reporters at yesterday’s COVID-19 update that there is no truth to the viral claims.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only one approved for use on children and Trinidad and Tobago has started inoculating secondary school age children.

Dr. Hinds said the Ministry is keeping check on all issues related to children.

The Ministry of Health is reminding parents of children who have been vaccinated to report adverse events via the Ministry’s approved channels.

An organisation calling itself COVID Report TT which is inviting people to submit adverse events to its website.

Dr. Avery Hinds said members of the public should use only bonifide channels.

A warning from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, if enough students are not vaccinated by mid September his government would do what it has to.

Yesterday Dr. Rowley again pleaded with parents and guardians to have their children vaccinated.

He was speaking at the commissioning of the San Juan Government Primary School.

Dr. Rowley said the Pfizer vaccine is here and available to children between the ages of 12 and 18, so they need to be accessed.

The Prime Minister is insisting children must be vaccinated for their own good.

Delivering the feature address Prime Minister Rowley pleaded with parents to do the right thing.

Acting Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith is defending the present policy that allows some citizens with a Firearm User’s License to own more than 1 weapon.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, he said he had taken note of an article in the Sunday Express in which statements were made by former Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams on the issue.

He said the law provided for qualified persons who apply for a FUL to be outfitted with one, and a weapon as necessary.

As such, he said Mr. Williams’ statements were unfortunate.

The Acting Commissioner said everyone has a right to defend themselves and their families against the criminal elements.

He was speaking at the Police Administrative Building in Port of Spain.

Opposition Members of Parliament say they will approach, with an open mind, the debate on the government’s motion to extend the State Of Emergency.

However, their leader Kamla Persad Bissessar is raising questions about the government’s intention.

During last evening virtual report, the Opposition Leader said while she is eager to hear the government’s justifications, the data already in the public’s space is not looking good.

The government will tomorrow go to the Parliament seeking the 3-month extension of the SOE.

Government officials, including the Attorney General have stated there is a need for the continuing SOE to keep the COVID-19 numbers down.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar believes the government’s want is for control and power to deal with dissent.

The leader of the Opposition referred to the number of deaths and infections.

She then accused the Prime Minister of flip-flopping on the issue of a State Of Emergency and called on those against the extension to take action.

The State Of Emergency expires on the 29^th of this month.

The motion to extend does not require a special majority in the Parliament.

Rising floodwaters prove too much for some residents of St. Augustine.

Several families were evacuated from their homes.

The Member of Parliament Khadijah Ameen was up to yesterday afternoon displeased with attempts to bring relief to the people most affected.

Speaking from Piarco, Ms. Ameen said the Regional Corporation has failed.

The MP said areas in her constituency have suffered such calamities since the construction of the Curepe overpass.

But in response Chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corpration Kwesi Robinson said action was being taken to deal with the situation.

He spoke after a meeting on the flooding yesterday.

Chairman Robinson said the effort would continue as waters subside.

And clean up operations continued in several areas after heavy rains caused by an active Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.

The authorities told of significant floods and major landslides in some communities.

Yesterday several communities remained under water and the Rural Development Ministry says in one region there have been 65 reports of floods and landslides.

Coordinator at the Ministry Jerry David says St. Helena and Kelly Village have been badly affected by yesterday’s showers.

Mr. David said in the south there have been incidents as well, and one senior citizens home is in danger.

He is grateful there have been no injuries.

And the Meteorological Service has lowered its weather alert level from yellow to green as of Thursday afternoon, but is warning the public that riverine flooding remains under a relatively high alert.

An update on the MET Office’s website reported that while the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has settled, there were some areas still affected by flood waters, as Trinidad remains under orange alert for flooding.

The public is advised to use caution in areas with floodwaters. 

A Tunapuna policewoman is charged with 11 counts of money laundering and one count of larceny of $405,995.

Thirty-six-year-old WPC Kennisha Henry, was granted $200,000 bail by a Justice Of the Peace on Thursday.

She is expected to appear before a Magistrate on October 6^th.

The police, in a statement say its Finance Branch and Fraud Squad arrested WPC Henry after a joint investigation.

The investigation revealed she allegedly received a cheque payment in error.

She allegedly signed for and received a government-issued cheque in the sum of $264,843.19.

The cheque represented arrears of salaries and allowances, for the period 2009 to 2016, which were withheld from her while she was on suspension.

Police said further enquiries revealed the Finance Branch credited $518,174.20 to Henry’s bank account, on November 20^th, 2020, of which $505,897.64 was deemed as arrears on salaries and allowances.

In December 2020, the Finance Branch detected that an error was made, in an attempted to correct it, it is alleged Henry was told, verbally and in writing, about the mistake and arrangements were made to repay the funds.

However, this was not done.